2020 Indiana Latino Legislative Agenda

20 2020

INDIANA LATINO LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

2020

DISTRICT 1

LEGISLATIVE

Indiana

launched

Latino

a

Legislative

Institute

statewide

Advisory

has

of

the

Districts.

committee

is

The

to

Edwin Arellano

Richard Aguirre

Rick Proctor

Legislative

addresses

issues

Agenda that

DISTRICT 8 Daniela Vidal Jonas Cueche

Cassandra Salazar

a

that

affect

Matzine Sanchez

DISTRICT 4

Carina Olaru

Latino

DISTRICT 7

Sam Centellas

Steve Corona

purpose

develop

Whitney Amuchastegui

JoAnne Alvarez

with

representatives from all nine Indiana Congressional

Myrna Maldonado

DISTRICT 3

Latino

Committee

Luz Elena Michel

DISTRICT 2

COMMITTEE The

DISTRICT 6

Alfredo Estrada

DISTRICT 9 Miguel Hampton Yolanda Trevino

DISTRICT 5

all

Henry Fernandez

Latino communities across the state.

Amber Garcia

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Marlene Dotson President & CEO

Since

2001,

through

ILI

has

advocacy

brought

and

issues

culturally

that

affect

responsive

Indiana’s

Latino

programming.

communities

Issues

such

as

front

health,

and

center

educational

attainment and Latino leadership cultivation. ILI’s 2020 Legislative Agenda reflects priorities that

are

critical

Improvement safety the

through

positively

Indiana

to

improving Workforce

impact

Latino

lives

Indiana

community,

for

Latinos

Development, socially,

we

must

across

Education,

culturally, continue

and

to

the

state.

Health,

Immigration,

economically.

move

forward

Addressing

in

As all

a

Economic and

trusted

our

efforts to elevate our community. It is our hope that you will join us in this work.

public

voice

for

organizational

Indiana Latino Institute

THE

ISSUES

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Expand Indiana's Workforce Ready Grant

EDUCATION Indiana Latino Student Enrollment In-State Tuition for Undocumented Students

IMMIGRATION Access to Early Childhood Education Comprehensive Federal Immigration Reform Minority College Completion in Indiana Increase 21st Century Scholars Resources

PUBLIC SAFETY Strengthen Bias Crime Bill by Addressing Race

HEALTH Allow Undocumented Immigrants to Obtain Increase Indiana's Current Cigarette Tax

Driver's License

Support K-12 Schools' Efforts to Decrease Underage Tobacco Use

2020 CENSUS Increase Self-Reporting for Indiana Latinos

2020 20

ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT THROUGH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

2M require

Hoosiers

additional

training

to

compete in today's workforce.

There will be over job

EXPAND THE WORKFORCE READY GRANT

to

openings

in

retirements

1M Indiana

due

and

the

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, almost 30% of Latino Hoosier adults aged 25 and older have obtained a high school diploma or an equivalent education but have not completed any higher education.

An additional 20% have completed some college or

have obtained an associate degree.

creation

next decade.

These Latino Hoosiers can help Indiana meet the

needs of its workforce by participating in the state's Next Level Jobs initiative, specifically the Workforce Ready Grant. This initiative, under the Next Level Jobs program, gives more Hoosiers access to free, high-value credentials in key industries.

of

This grant targets in-

demand occupations within high-growth sectors of Indiana's economy.

US Census Bureau

new

jobs

in

the

EDUCATION

INDIANA LATINO STUDENT ENROLLMENT

Since

2006,

Latino

student

enrollment

in

Indiana

K-12

public schools has risen from 59,869 (5.8% of total public

LATINO EDUCATIONAL

school

ATTAINMENT

public

enrollment) school

to

106,048

enrollment).

It

in is

2014 clear

(10.2% that

the

of

total

Indiana

Latino population continues to grow, yet there remains 25%

significant

gaps

for

educational

attainment

resources.

20%

4.4%

15%

10%

RISE IN 5%

K-12 LATINO ENROLLMENT

0% Bachelor's

Associate

Some College/

Degree

Degree

Other

Indiana Commission for Higher Education

INÂ THE LAST 8 YEARS

and

ENSURE ELIGIBILITY FOR IN-STATE TUITION & FINANCIAL AID FOR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS It

is

crucial

to

ensure

in-state

college

and

university

tuition

as

well

as

financial aid eligibility for undocumented students, who have matriculated through the Indiana K-12 school system, by restoring state statutes.

Indiana is

1 of 5

states that specifically

53%

65%

Hispanic Enrollment

White Enrollment

Many undocumented students came to the US as young children and have attended

Indiana

K-12

education.

One of

the

major

barriers

affecting

undocumented students is a low socioeconomic background and the ability

prohibits in-state tuition rates for undocumented immigrants.

to acquire the necessary financial resources to attend higher education. The State imposes a policy that severely limits its future social and economic mobility for young Hoosiers.

Indiana Commission for Higher Education

INCREASE ACCESS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION The cost of quality early education remains out of reach for too many families. A quality education is critical for young people to succeed as adults, and Pre-K is the foundation of a child’s educational experience.

The participation in high quality early childhood education will increase school readiness for Hoosier children. There is strong evidence that shows students who attend a Pre-K program develop the emotional, academic, and social skills they may otherwise lack, and are thus more prepared to learn and engage in the classroom than their peers who did not attend a Pre-K program.

Additionally, research states that since 2010, federal spending on children has declined and is projected to continue decreasing over the next decade to its lowest point since the Great Depression.

Hispanic Pre-K Enrollment

55%

.5 M HOOSIER CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5

Annie E. Casey Foundation (2017)

FEDERAL SPENDING ON CHILDREN HAS DECLINED AND IS PREDICTED TO CONTINUE TO DECREASE

1

/4

HOOSIER FAMILIES LIVE IN POVERTY

ADD MINORITY COMPLETION TO THE STATE'S HIGHER EDUCATION PERFORMANCE FUNDING FORMULA Indiana’s public higher education institutions must prioritize minority completion if Indiana hopes to meet its 2025 goal of 60% post-secondary attainment. According to data released by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE), an achievement gap exists between Black and Hispanic college completion rates than their White counterparts.

Indiana cannot allow such an educational disparity to remain unaddressed if it wants to achieve a highly educated population and ensure a strong economy. Indiana already utilizes performance funding variables in its higher education funding formula but adding minority completion would provide incentive to Indiana’s state funded colleges and universities to implement programs and services that positively impact minority student success and completion rates.

COLLEGE COMPLETION RATES two year EMIT NO

HISPANIC

WHITE

four year

EMIT DEDNETXE

two year

four year

0

%

10

% 2

Indiana Commission for Higher Education

0

% 3

0

% 4

0

% 5

0

% 6

0

% 7

0

%

INCREASE RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES APPLYING FOR THE 21ST CENTURY SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Growth since 2010

Indiana

has

witnessed

a

5%

8%

LATINO

STUDENTS

STUDENT

ARE

ENROLLMENT

LOW INCOME

significant

in

increase

high

school

graduates,

producing 10,000 more graduates between 2007 and 2017. To address the achievement

gap

it

is

important

to

support

the

growing

Latino

student

population.

The

Out

of

the

eligible

students

21st

Century

program

encourages

enroll

a

load

in

and

more obtain

Scholars students

rigorous an

to

course

Academic

Academic Honors Diploma Recipients 21st Century Scholars

Honors diploma. Data gathered by

going into their junior year of

the Indiana Commission for Higher Education

high school, only applied for the program.

46%

who

shows

enroll

in

that

students

more

rigorous

25% Non-21st Century Scholars

courses in high school are more likely to complete all coursework, persist

to

the

second

year,

and

46%

not require remediation.

Indiana Commission for Higher Education

17.1%

OVER

11,100

NATIONAL ADULT SMOKING RATE

HOOSIERS DIE EACH YEAR FROM SMOKING

HEALTH Tobacco use directly impacts both individuals who smoke and those who do not. Secondhand smoke exposure has been shown to increase the risk for developing heart disease, cancer, respiratory problems, as well as irritation of the eyes and nasal passages.

21.8% INDIANA'S ADULT SMOKING RATE

Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death. Indiana’s smoking during pregnancy rate is almost double the national smoking during pregnancy rate (National: 6.5%, Indiana 11.5%). Indiana’s smoking rates are also bad for business. Each employee who smokes costs Indiana businesses nearly $3.2B in lost productivity, annually, and costs Hoosiers $589.8M in Medicaid expenses.

Center for Disease Control & Campaign for Tobacoo Free Kids

INCREASE INDIANA'S

An increase of $2.00 per pack

CURRENT CIGARETTE

is projected to encourage over

TAX BY $2 PER PACK

70,000

The single most effective way to decrease smoking is to increase the tax. Raising the cigarette tax will immediately reduce smoking rates, especially among low-income populations, racial minorities, and youth.

smoking

adult

Hoosiers

and

prevent

youth from ever starting.

Smoking costs Indiana

$2.93B in healthcare each year

Center for Disease Control & Campaign for Tobacoo Free Kids

11.5%

30%

Indiana women

Women on Medicaid

smoke while

smoke while

pregnant

pregnant

to

quit

58,000

SUPPORT K-12 SCHOOLS' EFFORTS TO DECREASE UNDERAGE TOBACCO USAGE One in five high school students and nearly one in twelve middle school students reported using tobacco products in 2018 (IYTS). Electronic cigarettes, specifically JUUL, are most commonly used among teens. These products have been linked to more than 100 lung injury cases in the state of Indiana. To reduce the use of e-cigarettes among youth, the Indiana Latino Institute has partnered with MSD of Lawrence Township to educate students, staff, and parents, provide cessation resources, and create youth-focused media. The Indiana Latino Institute is committed to helping K-12 schools across the state create plans to prevent underage usage and end the cycle of tobacco use in our minority communities.

Increase Among

48% Middle School Students

Increase Among

78% High School

2017

1

/5

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Students

MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL

1/1 2

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS

2018

0

%

10

% 2

0

% 3

0

% 4

0

%

ARE USING TOBACCO PRODUCTS IYTS

2020 CENSUS

INCREASE

SELF-REPORTING FOR LATINO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE The Hispanic population, the United States' fastest growing population, is comprised of 57.5 million people (17.8% of the total population). Latinos have been historically under-counted in the U.S. census and

face

numerous

barriers

that

INDIANA LATINO POPULATION GROWTH US Census Bureau

provide

them with the label “hard-to-count." Barriers

472,400

such as language, poverty, education and immigrant status require special attention in order

to

accurately

complete

the

389,700

2020

census.

To

support

this

growing

population,

it

is

214,500

imperative that individuals who identify as coming

from

participate

Hispanic

in

the

or

Latino

decennial

descent

census.

An

accurate count of the Hispanic population and

increased

undoubtedly

systemic

benefit

the

support United

98,700

will

States'

economy and general level of educational attainment in the country.

1990

2000

2010

2018*

COMPREHENSIVE

IMMIGRATION

800,000

REFORM

WOULD PROVIDE A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP FOR

9,000+ YOUNG HOOSIERS

DACA

RECIPIENTS

IN

INDIANA

PAY

OVER

$23.2M

A YEAR IN STATE

AND LOCAL TAXES. THIS ECONOMIC

10,000

DACA RECIPIENTS IN THE U.S.

IMMIGRATION

CONTRIBUTION

BENEFITS

ALL

DACA RECIPIENTS

AMERICANS.

IN INDIANA

Immigration Justice

A PERMANENT LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION FOR DACA

SUPPORT COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION REFORM In

2017,

the

current

administration

decided

to

end

Deferred

Action

for

Childhood Arrivals (DACA) without a ready alternative; in 2019 the U.S Supreme Court agreed to review these legal challenges a decision is expected no later than June 2020. Ending DACA would terminate recipients' work authorization

$814M

About

91%

of

recipients

are

currently

employed

and

New jobs in Indiana

In economic growth in the next 10 years

which is critical in helping DACA recipients participate more fully in the labor force.

1,200

contribute

significantly to the economy.

$220M In new federal tax revenues

Niskanen Center

PUBLIC SAFETY

ALLOW

UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS STRENGTHEN EXISTING

TO OBTAIN DRIVER’S LICENSES

BIAS CRIME BILL BY

Allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses improves public safety by ensuring more drivers are tested and insured. This decision would put

ADDRESSING RACE

the

safety

immigration

of

all

motorists

status.

ahead

Additionally,

of

immigration

offering

politics,

undocumented

regardless

immigrants

of the

In 2019, Indiana Legislature enacted a bias crime

opportunity to obtain driver’s licenses would increase state revenue associated

bill that fails to protect victims of hate crimes. Hate

with driver’s license and car registration fees.

crimes are differentiated from other criminal acts by the additional, rippling impact on the victim’s community. feelings

Communities

of

are

victimization,

often

left

vulnerability,

with fear,

isolation, and a lack of protection by the law.

As reported by the FBI, more than half of hate crime incidents

are

ancestry.

Hate

motivated crimes

by

race,

terrorize

ethnicity,

or

communities

by

ensuring certain classes are afraid to live freely and to

move

Indiana’s

about recent

in

their

legislation

community. shows

the

Amending community

that Indiana stands against hate crimes and shows Hoosiers, visitors, and businesses that Indiana truly

$1.6 M

I N POTENTI AL DRI VER' S LI CENSE APPLI CATI ON FEES

Approximately 92,000 Latino Hoosiers are eligible to

welcomes all.

apply for and receive a driver's license

Our mission is to improve health and advance education for the Indiana Latino community through statewide advocacy, research, and culturally responsive programs.

www.indianalatinoinstitute.org

Indiana Latino Institute

Indiana Latino Institute

401 W Michigan St. #100

@IndianaLatinoInstitute

Indianapolis, IN 46202

@IndianaLatino Indiana Latino Institute

P 317.472.1055 F 317.472.1056